Suspender-buckle



(No Model.)

C. L. HOSPORD.

SUSPBNDER BUCKLE.

No. 262,672. Patented Aug.15, 1882.

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N. PETERS. Phmmhagnplm, wanhingwn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

4 CHARLES L. HOSFORD, OF HAYDENVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

sUsPENoER-BUCSKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,672, dated August 15, 1882.

Application filed June 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES L. HosEoRD, of Haydenville, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusettsdim-*e invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspender-Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in suspender-buckles, the object of the same being to provide adevice that will automatically clamp or bind the main strap of the suspender therein as soon as pressure on the buckle is removed.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic buckle without the use of pivotal points or hinges, which shall combine simplicity and economy of construction with durability and efficiency in use, and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more full y described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of my device secured to a suspender. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 represents the front slidingplate in front and side elevations, and Fig. 5 shows the rear plate in front and side elevations.

A represents the suspender-strap, and B the buckle, by means of which the suspender is adjusted on the wearer. This buckle B is coniposed of the front sliding plate, C, and the rear plate, D, the two latter being constructed and connected together in the manner to be hereinafter described. The rear plate, D, is lnade ot' any suitable sheet metal, plated or not, as desired, and of width sufficient, when the side anges, a, are turned up, to freely ad- `mit of the passage of the supender A. These side flanges, a, on the opposite sides of the plate D are turned up from the main body portion of the said plate, and then are turned in ward toward each other, as shown at b, so as to form a guide or lock for the front sliding plate, C, which moves in the guideways formed by the said anges. The ends b of the side anges, a, instead of lying parallel tothe main body of the plate, lie atan angle thereto, so as to make the space between the plates C and D at the top of the buckle larger than the opening at the bottom. This construction, although not absolutely necessary, is more effective in operation than if the ends b of the flanges a were parallel to the plate D. As the opening at the bottom of the buckle is just wide enough for the passage of the strap A when the plate C is elevated, it follows that as the front plate moves down the inclined guideways the opening is decreased in size and the strap is firmly held at this lower end as well as at the upper end.

The portions b of the flanges a are each provided with an oblong slot, c, in which the outwardly-projectin g lugs, d, of the face-plates C rest. These lugs d, afterthe two parts are pnt together, as shown in Fig. 1, are turned inward or toward each other and bear on the iianges b, so as to firmly h old and lock the two plates together.

The upper edge of the plate C is provided with rearwardly-curved teeth or biting-edge 6, adapted to engage the suspender A and firmly bind it in the buckle, while the lower edge of the said plate is provided with the spring-hook or loop E, formed integral thcrewith for the attachment of the lower or securing ends of the suspender.

The' manner of securing a suspender-strap to my improved buckle is as follows: The plate C is first moved up the inclined guideways until the lugs d abut against the upper walls of the slot c. This increases the size of the upper and lower openings of the buckle, and enables the suspender to be introduced between the two plates and adjusted on the wearer. As soon as the proper position or adjustment has been reached the buckle is released, and the tension causes the plate C to move down the guideways formed by the side anges of the plate D. As the plates approach the position shown in Fig. l the two openings before referred to gradually decrease in size until the strap becomes rmly impacted between the biting-edge or teeth e and the plate D at the upper end and the plates G and D at the lower end.

My improvement is simple in construction, can be manufactured at a small initial cost,

IOO

and is more efficient and will last longer than the buckles now commonly used on suspenders.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As an improved article of manufacture, a suspender-buckle composed of two plates, one of which is provided with two side flanges, each having an oblong slot therein, while the other is provided with two side lugs adapted to rest in the said oblong slots, a rearwardlycurved biting-edge, and ahook, all of the above adapted to operate as described.

2. rIhe combination, with the rear plate pro- I5 vided with two side Bauges slotted and bent, as described, to form guides, of a front plate provided with side lugs adapted to enter the slots of said anges, an upper biting-edge, and a hook at its lower end, substantially as set zo forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing,` witnesses.

`(JHARLES L. HOSFORD. Witnesses:

U. II. PIERCE, W. B. HENDERSON. 

